Ohio Search and Rescue
Who leads searches in Ohio, how agencies request state help, and the resources behind them. Each item links to its source. Reviewed November 2026.
Emergency: call 911. State contact: Ohio EMA (614) 889-7150. Ohio EMA’s Watch Office works as part of the State Emergency Operations Center. How a state request works ↓
Requesting state help in Ohio
No Ohio statute names a single agency to lead search and rescue. Missing-person searches are led by the local law enforcement agency with jurisdiction (county sheriff, city or township police), which must take and act on missing-child reports.
- State 24-hour contactOhio EMA main line (614) 889-7150. The Watch Office works as part of the State Emergency Operations Center.
- Requesting state resourcesWhen more help is needed, the county EMA director asks the State through Ohio EMA (main line 614-889-7150). State SAR mutual aid requests are submitted and managed through the State EOC.
Want to write the request out before you call? Use the request builder. Official agency: Ohio EMA ↗.
Key numbers
Only figures with a published source.
BluePrintSAR resource pages for Ohio (below).
How search and rescue is requested in Ohio
- Step 1In an emergency call 911. The local law enforcement agency with jurisdiction (usually the county sheriff or city police) leads a missing-person search; local fire departments handle water and technical rescue.
- Step 2Local agencies use their own resources and existing mutual aid first, including volunteer SAR teams they work with.
- Step 3When more help is needed, the county EMA director asks the State through Ohio EMA (main line 614-889-7150). State SAR mutual aid requests are submitted and managed through the State EOC.
- Step 4The State EOC, with ODNR as ESF-9 coordinator, can task state agencies (State Highway Patrol, National Guard, ODNR), regional collapse and water rescue teams, and volunteer SAR groups such as the Ohio Special Response Team and Ohio Search and Rescue Association.
- Step 5Ohio Task Force 1 (FEMA Type I urban SAR) can be deployed in Ohio with approval of the Ohio EMA Executive Director.
Law and authority
Law enforcement with jurisdiction must take every missing-child report, act promptly to locate the child, enter the child in NCIC and notify neighboring agencies. No agency may have a policy discouraging such reports. Does not cover adults.
Immunity from liability for state and local employees, emergency management volunteers and private persons doing emergency management in good faith, including during training and drills; excludes willful misconduct. Workers' compensation rights are kept.
Emergency management workers injured while doing emergency management duties get workers' compensation on the same basis as employees, unless already covered elsewhere.
State plans and guidelines
Official plans, annexes and program documents for Ohio.
- Ohio EOP, ESF 9 Search and Rescue ↗ — Ohio Emergency Management Agency annex to the Ohio Emergency Operations Plan for search and rescue.
- Ohio EOP overview elements ↗ — Overview of how the Ohio EOP is organized.
Resources by discipline
What each resource does, how it is requested in Ohio, and the standards that apply.
Listed in BluePrintSAR directories for Ohio
Loading counts…
Counts are directory category listings, not unique organizations, personnel or available assets. Informational canine placeholders are excluded. Organizations can appear in several categories; canine specialty subtotals can overlap.
Aviation (ANG / State Patrol)
The Highway Patrol Aviation Section provides free FLIR air support to any Ohio agency; Civil Air Patrol and the Coast Guard cover other cases.
Canine (K9)
No state SAR dog license; volunteer teams certify through national work-dog bodies hosted by the Ohio Federation of K9 Search Teams; Ohio Task Force 1 fields canine search specialists
Cave & Mine Rescue
Volunteer specialistsSpecialists for rescues in caves and mines, where rope work, tight passages and communications make ordinary rescue methods hard.
Cell Phone Forensics
Kelsey Smith Act law: none found. 5 agencies and resources listed. All checked against official sources.
Coast Guard
Coast Guard districts and 4 sectors covering Ohio, plus 10 stations, local and volunteer units. All checked against official sources.
Communication
National SAR and interoperability channels from the NIFOG, plus 4 state, local and volunteer radio systems and groups. All checked against official sources.
Dive & Underwater
7 public safety and volunteer dive teams listed. All checked against a cited source.
Drone / UAS
State drone law: ORC 4561.51. 6 agency and volunteer drone teams listed, each checked against a published source.
National Guard
Governor-activatedMilitary helicopters and personnel for hoist rescue, aerial search and ground support when civilian resources can’t do the job.
Mantracking
Trackers who find and follow a missing person’s footprints and other sign on the ground.
Marine & Boating Law Enforcement
State boating agencyOfficers and boats on lakes, rivers and coastal waters who respond to boating emergencies and support water searches.
Sheriff / Law Enforcement
No Ohio statute names a single agency to lead search and rescue.
State Parks
State agencyThe state park system, whose staff know park terrain and trails and support searches on park land.
Swiftwater & Flood Rescue
Teams that search for and rescue people and animals in swiftwater and floods, from shore and by boat.
Technical Mountain Rescue
MRA teams listedTeams for steep, high-angle and alpine terrain that use rope systems to reach and evacuate people.
USAR (FEMA / State Task Force)
One FEMA task force is based here (OH-TF1).
Federal lands (Forest Service and National Park Service)
Federal land managerFederal land agencies whose staff support searches on national forests, grasslands and parks.
UTV & ATV Units
Off-road vehicles, including UTVs, ATVs and e-bikes, that move searchers and equipment and carry out injured people over rough trails.
88-county directory
Each county and its sheriff’s office. Who leads a search varies by state; see the top of this page. For an emergency, call 911.
All 88 phone numbers verified (2026-10) against the agency’s own site, a government directory, or a sheriffs’ association or IACP directory; each “Verified” link shows the source. For an emergency, call 911.
| Jurisdiction | Agency | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Adams County | Adams County Sheriff’s Office | (937) 544-2314 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Allen County | Allen County Sheriff’s Office | (419) 993-1412 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Ashland County | Ashland County Sheriff’s Office | (419) 289-3911 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Ashtabula County | Ashtabula County Sheriff’s Office | (440) 576-0055 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Athens County | Athens County Sheriff’s Office | (740) 593-6633 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Auglaize County | Auglaize County Sheriff’s Office | (419) 739-6565 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Belmont County | Belmont County Sheriff’s Office | (740) 695-7933 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Brown County | Brown County Sheriff’s Office | (937) 378-4435 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Butler County | Butler County Sheriff’s Office | (513) 785-1300 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Carroll County | Carroll County Sheriff’s Office | (330) 627-2141 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Champaign County | Champaign County Sheriff’s Office | (937) 484-6091 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Clark County | Clark County Sheriff’s Office | (937) 328-2560 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Clermont County | Clermont County Sheriff’s Office | (513) 732-7500 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Clinton County | Clinton County Sheriff’s Office | (937) 382-1611 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Columbiana County | Columbiana County Sheriff’s Office | (330) 424-7255 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Coshocton County | Coshocton County Sheriff’s Office | (740) 622-2411 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Crawford County | Crawford County Sheriff’s Office | (419) 562-7906 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Cuyahoga County | Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office | (216) 443-6000 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Darke County | Darke County Sheriff’s Office | (937) 548-3399 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Defiance County | Defiance County Sheriff’s Office | (419) 784-1155 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Delaware County | Delaware County Sheriff’s Office | (740) 833-2810 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Erie County | Erie County Sheriff’s Office | (419) 625-7951 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Fairfield County | Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office | (740) 652-7900 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Fayette County | Fayette County Sheriff’s Office | (740) 335-6170 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Franklin County | Franklin County Sheriff’s Office | (614) 525-3360 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Fulton County | Fulton County Sheriff’s Office | (419) 335-4010 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Gallia County | Gallia County Sheriff’s Office | (740) 446-1205 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Geauga County | Geauga County Sheriff’s Office | (440) 279-2064 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Greene County | Greene County Sheriff’s Office | (937) 562-4803 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Guernsey County | Guernsey County Sheriff’s Office | (740) 439-4455 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Hamilton County | Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office | (513) 946-6400 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Hancock County | Hancock County Sheriff’s Office | (419) 424-7097 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Hardin County | Hardin County Sheriff’s Office | (419) 673-1268 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Harrison County | Harrison County Sheriff’s Office | (740) 942-2197 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Henry County | Henry County Sheriff’s Office | (419) 592-8010 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Highland County | Highland County Sheriff’s Office | (937) 393-1421 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Hocking County | Hocking County Sheriff’s Office | (740) 385-2131 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Holmes County | Holmes County Sheriff’s Office | (330) 763-0014 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Huron County | Huron County Sheriff’s Office | (419) 668-6912 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Jackson County | Jackson County Sheriff’s Office | (740) 286-6464 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Jefferson County | Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office | (740) 283-8600 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Knox County | Knox County Sheriff’s Office | (740) 397-3333 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Lake County | Lake County Sheriff’s Office | (440) 350-5517 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Lawrence County | Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office | (740) 532-3525 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Licking County | Licking County Sheriff’s Office | (740) 670-5555 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Logan County | Logan County Sheriff’s Office | (937) 592-5731 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Lorain County | Lorain County Sheriff’s Office | (440) 329-3702 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Lucas County | Lucas County Sheriff’s Office | (419) 213-4941 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Madison County | Madison County Sheriff’s Office | (740) 852-1332 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Mahoning County | Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office | (330) 480-5030 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Marion County | Marion County Sheriff’s Office | (740) 382-8244 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Medina County | Medina County Sheriff’s Office | (330) 725-0028 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Meigs County | Meigs County Sheriff’s Office | (740) 992-3371 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Mercer County | Mercer County Sheriff’s Office | (419) 586-7724 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Miami County | Miami County Sheriff’s Office | (937) 440-6085 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Monroe County | Monroe County Sheriff’s Office | (740) 472-1612 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Montgomery County | Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office | (937) 225-4192 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Morgan County | Morgan County Sheriff’s Office | (740) 962-4044 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Morrow County | Morrow County Sheriff’s Office | (419) 946-4444 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Muskingum County | Muskingum County Sheriff’s Office | (740) 452-3637 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Noble County | Noble County Sheriff’s Office | (740) 732-5681 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Ottawa County | Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office | (419) 734-4404 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Paulding County | Paulding County Sheriff’s Office | (419) 399-3791 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Perry County | Perry County Sheriff’s Office | (740) 342-4123 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Pickaway County | Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office | (800) 472-6033 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Pike County | Pike County Sheriff’s Office | (740) 947-2111 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Portage County | Portage County Sheriff’s Office | (330) 297-3682 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Preble County | Preble County Sheriff’s Office | (937) 456-6262 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Putnam County | Putnam County Sheriff’s Office | (419) 523-3208 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Richland County | Richland County Sheriff’s Office | (419) 774-5678 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Ross County | Ross County Sheriff’s Office | (740) 773-1186 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Sandusky County | Sandusky County Sheriff’s Office | (419) 334-6474 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Scioto County | Scioto County Sheriff’s Office | (740) 354-7566 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Seneca County | Seneca County Sheriff’s Office | (419) 447-3456 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Shelby County | Shelby County Sheriff’s Office | (937) 498-1111 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Stark County | Stark County Sheriff’s Office | (330) 430-3800 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Summit County | Summit County Sheriff’s Office | (330) 643-2154 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Trumbull County | Trumbull County Sheriff’s Office | (330) 675-2508 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Tuscarawas County | Tuscarawas County Sheriff’s Office | (330) 339-2000 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Union County | Union County Sheriff’s Office | (937) 645-4100 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Van Wert County | Van Wert County Sheriff’s Office | (419) 238-3866 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Vinton County | Vinton County Sheriff’s Office | (740) 596-5242 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Warren County | Warren County Sheriff’s Office | (513) 695-1126 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Washington County | Washington County Sheriff’s Office | (740) 373-6623 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Wayne County | Wayne County Sheriff’s Office | (330) 287-5700 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Williams County | Williams County Sheriff’s Office | (419) 636-3151 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Wood County | Wood County Sheriff’s Office | (419) 354-9001 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |
| Wyandot County | Wyandot County Sheriff’s Office | (419) 294-2362 sheriff’s office line (Ohio Attorney General law enforcement directory) · Verified |